Item Retaining and Organizing Apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for retaining and organizing multiple items. The apparatus may be particularly useful for retaining and organizing items for infants. Such items may include feeding bottles, pacifiers, toys, stimulating devices and articles. The apparatus may retain various items in the proximity of the infant after the items have been thrown or dropped. The apparatus may be attached to one or more structures which can include highchairs, strollers, shopping carts, cribs, furniture, car seats, and the like.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an organizational device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tethered retaining device for infant items.

BACKGROUND

Many items are often provided to infants for the purposes of feeding, calming or playing. Such items may include a feeding bottle, a pacifier, or various types of toys or stimulating devices or articles. As is the case with most infants, such items are typically dropped or thrown by the infant requiring someone to retrieve the item and return the item to the infant. This can become inconvenient as this action is often repeated by the infant. This may become particularly inconvenient if pushing an infant in a stroller. In addition to being inconvenient, such items may be lost or become contaminated with dirt, germs, and/or harmful substances when thrown to the ground or other areas.

To prevent such items from being thrown or dropped by infants, various types of tethers have been used to secure the items in the proximity of the infants. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,498,613 and 7,419,125 generally disclose tethers for securing a feeding bottle in an area proximate an infant. U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,613 to Donahue discloses a tether for a feeding bottle which is attached to a body encircling strap. U.S. Pat. No. 7,419,125 to Simone discloses a tether for a feeding bottle which attaches to the shoulder harness strap of an infant car seat. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,765,037 and 4,903,698 generally disclose tethers form securing a pacifier in an area proximate an infant. The tethers may be secured to the clothing of an infant

Other types of apparatus have also been created which are designed to hold multiple items, such as infant related items. Such types of apparatus typically include multiple tethers which are centrally attached. U.S. Pat. No. 7,020,935 to Behn et al discloses an apparatus comprising multiple tethers which are centrally connected via a ring. Each of the tethers may have different types of holders for attaching to various items. U.S. Pat. No. 7,189,136 to Ehm discloses a main body with a plurality of integrally formed ribs. The ribs divide the outer periphery of the main body into segments which provide for attachment of various items by one or more straps. While such types of apparatus may maintain various items in the proximity of an infant and prevent the items from being thrown to the ground, there is still a need in the art for an apparatus that secures multiple items in an organized fashion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein, is an item retaining apparatus comprising a planar central hub portion having two or more projections spacedly disposed around the periphery of the planar central hub portion, each of said projections having one or more primary attachment holes in the distal end thereof, and a tether attached to the planar central hub portion, the tether having an attachment portion which is detachably connectable to a structure or person. The two or more projections may be equally spaced about the periphery of said planar central hub portion. The item retaining apparatus may further comprise one or more primary attachment straps attached to one or more of the primary attachment holes in the one or more projections.

The item retaining apparatus may further comprise one or more secondary attachment holes disposed proximate to the periphery of the central hub portion. The one or more secondary attachment holes may be disposed between the projections. One secondary attachment hole may be disposed between every two projections on the central hub portion. The tether may be attached to one of the secondary attachment holes. The item retaining apparatus may further comprise one or more secondary attachment straps attached to one or more of the secondary attachment holes.

At least a portion of the surface of the central hub portion may have a rough texture. The central hub portion may also comprise one or more surface features disposed on the surface and/or the periphery thereof, the one or more surface features being selected from bumps, ridges, grooves, protrusions, and depressions. The central hub portion may be formed from a rigid material, a semi-rigid material, a flexible material, or a combination thereof. The central hub portion may be a hollow structure with liquid or air disposed therein. The liquid contained within the hollow central hub portion may be a freezable liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, is a depiction of an article organization apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2, is a depiction of an item retaining apparatus having a rough surface in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3, is a depiction of an item retaining apparatus having one or more surface features in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatus for retaining and organizing multiple items. The apparatus may be particularly useful for retaining and organizing items for infants. Such items may include feeding bottles, pacifiers, toys, stimulating devices and other articles. The apparatus may retain various items in the proximity of the infant after the items have been thrown or dropped. To retain the various items in the proximity of the infant, the apparatus may be attached to one or more structures which can include highchairs, strollers, shopping carts, cribs, furniture, car seats, and the like.

A depiction of the item retaining apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The item retaining apparatus 10 generally comprises a planar central hub portion 20. The planar central hub portion 20 may have two or more projections 30 disposed about the periphery of the central hub portion 20 extending outwardly. The two or more projections 30 may be unevenly spaced or equally spaced from one another about the periphery of the central hub portion 20. In a preferred embodiment, the central hub portion has four projections equally spaced apart from one another about the periphery of the central hub portion. Each of the projections 30 of the central hub portion 20 may have one or more holes 40 in the distal end thereof. The one or more holes 40 in each projection may have a circular, oval or polygonal shape. The one or more holes 40 in the distal end of each projection 30 provide an attachment point for connecting a strap or clip. A strap 50 attached to the distal hole of the projection may be used to attach an item to the central hub portion 20. The strap 50 may be any type strap, rope, cable, or cord. The straps 50 may utilize a hook and loop fastener (Velcro) whereby the end of the strap loops around an attaching point of the item or central hub portion and attaches to itself via the hook and loop fastener (Velcro). The straps may also utilize a clip to attach to the central hub portion and/or the item to be retained. An item having an attachment clip may be attached to the hole in the distal end of the projection. The clip may be any type clip known in the art. An example of an item having a clip is an infant toy having a tether attached to a c-type clip. Such infant toys may easily be attached to one of the projections from the central hub. By using the two or more projections 30 as points of attachment for various items, the attached items may be attached about the central hub portion 20 in an organized manner. The two or more projections 30 being spaced apart aids in preventing two or more or the attached items from becoming tangled together thereby providing easy access to each attached item.

The central hub portion 20 may additionally have one or more holes 60 located proximate to the periphery of the central hub portion 20. The one or more holes 60 proximate to the periphery of the central hub may have a circular, oval or polygonal shape. The one or more holes may be disposed between two of two or more projections 30. The one or more holes 60 provide additional attachment sites for attaching straps or clips which may be used to attach one or more items to the central hub portion. The straps attached to the one or more holes 60 may be any type strap, rope, cable or cord. The straps may utilize a hook and loop fastener (Velcro) whereby the end of the strap loops around an attaching point of the item or central hub portion and attaches to itself via the hook and loop fastener (Velcro). The straps may also utilize a clip to attach to the central hub portion and/or the item to be retained. The clips may be any type clip able to attach an item to the central hub portion. Alternatively to using a strap or clip, an item may have an integrated attachment clip which provides for connection to the central hub portion. Preferably, one hole is located proximate to the periphery of the central hub portion between every two projections. Preferably, the one hole spaced between every two projections is equidistant from each projection. By using alternating attachment points between the projections and the periphery of the central hub portion, tangling or entwinement of the items attached to the central hub portion may be minimized or avoided altogether.

A tether 70 may be attached to the central hub portion 20. The tether 70 may be used to secure the central hub portion to a structure such as a chair, stroller, car seat, shopping cart, or any other type structure. The tether may also be used to secure the central hub portion to the person using the item retaining apparatus or to a person proximate to the person using the item retaining apparatus. An example of attachment to a person would be attaching the tether to an infant or an adult holding the infant. The tether 70 may be any type strap, rope, cable, or cord. The distal end of the tether may utilize a hook and loop fastener (Velcro) to attach to a person or structure whereby the end of the tether loops around an attaching point and attaches to itself via a hook and loop fastener (Velcro). The tether 70 may alternatively utilize a clip attached at the distal end thereof to connect to a structure or person. To aid in detaching the central hub portion from a structure or person, the tether may be comprised of a first portion and a second portion connected together via a snap fit buckle 80. The length of the tether is preferably longer than the straps attaching the items to the central hub portion.

The central hub portion 20 may be symmetrically or asymmetrically shaped. The upper and lower surfaces of the central hub portion 20 may be smooth, rough, or a combination thereof. A depiction of an item retaining apparatus having a rough surface 90 is shown in FIG. 2. Additionally, the central hub portion may have one or more surface features 100 disposed on the upper and/or lower surface thereof. The central hub portion 20 may also have one or more surface features 100 disposed on the peripheral edge of the central hub portion. The surface features may be selected from bumps, ridges, grooves, protrusions, and depressions. A depiction of an item retaining apparatus having one or more surface features 100 is shown in FIG. 3. The texture of the rough surface and/or surface features may be used to stimulate or calm an infant, by allowing an infant to chew on the central hub portion during teething. The central hub portion 20 may be formed from a rigid material, a semi-rigid material, a flexible material, or a combination thereof. Such materials may be selected from plastic, rubber, metal, fabric, wood, composites, or any other type material. The central hub portion 20 may be hollow material with a liquid or air disposed therein. The hollow central hub portion may include a liquid which may be frozen to provide soothing relief to an infant during teething. While there have been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the true scope of the invention. 

1. An item retaining apparatus comprising: a planar central hub portion having two or more projections spacedly disposed around the periphery of said planar central hub portion, each of said projections having one or more primary attachment holes in the distal end thereof; a tether attached to said planar central hub portion, said tether having an attachment portion which is detachably connectable to a structure or person.
 2. The item retaining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said two or more projections are equally spaced about the periphery of said planar central hub portion.
 3. The item retaining apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising one or more primary attachment straps attached to one or more of said primary attachment holes in said one or more projections.
 4. The item retaining apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising one or more secondary attachment holes disposed proximate to the periphery of said central hub portion, said one or more secondary attachment holes being disposed between said projections.
 5. The item retaining apparatus according to claim 4, wherein one secondary attachment hole is disposed between every two projections.
 6. The item retaining apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said tether is attached to one of said secondary attachment holes.
 7. The item retaining apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising one or more secondary attachment straps attached to one or more of said secondary attachment holes.
 8. The item retaining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the surface of said central hub portion has a rough texture.
 9. The item retaining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said central hub portion comprises one or more surface features disposed on the surface thereof, the one or more surface features being selected from bumps, ridges, grooves, protrusions, and depressions.
 10. The item retaining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said central hub portion comprises one or more surface features disposed on the peripheral edge thereof, the one or more surface features being selected from bumps, ridges, grooves, protrusions, and depressions.
 11. The item retaining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said central hub portion is formed from a rigid material, a semi-rigid material, a flexible material, or a combination thereof.
 12. The item retaining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said central hub portion is a hollow structure with liquid or air disposed therein.
 13. The item retaining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said hollow central hub portion contains a freezable liquid. 